Zircon is a common mineral found in all types of rocks especially granites, granodiorites, and syenites, in some crystalline limestones, and metamorphic rocks such as schists. Rounded grains are also sometimes found in some beach sands. The name comes from the Persian word zargun or "gold-colored".
| ZrSiO4 |
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| Nesosilicate |
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| Tetragonal |
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| 4/m 2/m 2/m |
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| 7.5 |
|
| 4.68 |
|
| {010}poor |
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| Uneven |
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| Brown, colorless, ray, green, red |
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| Colorless |
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| Adamantine, vitreous |
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| Translucent/transparent |
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| Prismatic |
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| Fluorescent |
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| Notable Localities: |
Australia; Brazil; Florida; Matura, Sri Lanka; Ural Mountains, Russia; Norway; New York; Renfrew Co., Ontario |
| Uses: |
Cut as a gemstone, ore of zirconium, radiometric dating of rocks |
Specimens:
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